Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetimbroch’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Duetimbroch’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy plant form; early and freely flowering habit; and daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets that are yellow orange and light purple in color.

Botanical designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUETIMBROCH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duetimbroch’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of theprogram is to create and develop new Osteospermum plants with uniformlymounded plant habit and numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in July, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermumecklonis identified as code number Q05-7582-003, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Osteospermumecklonis identified as code number F-23-001, not patented, as the male,or pollen, parent. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal cuttingsin a controlled environment in Rheinberg, Germany since May, 2009 hasshown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environmental conditions such as temperature and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duetimbroch’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duetimbroch’ as a new and distinct Osteospermumplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy plant form.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Daisy-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped ray        florets that are yellow orange and light purple in color.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more compact than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have orange-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of theOsteospermum ecklonis ‘Sunny Serena’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,693. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany,plants of the new Osteospermum differed primarily from plants of ‘SunnySerena’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more vigorous than plants        of ‘Sunny Serena’.    -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum were more freely flowering        than plants of ‘Sunny Serena’.    -   3. Plants of the new Osteospermum and ‘Sunny Serena’ differed in        ray floret color as plants of ‘Sunny Serena’ had pale yellow        orange-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Osteospermum plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Duetimbroch’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under conditions andpractices which approximate those generally used in commercialOsteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day andnight temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux.Measurements and numerical values represent averages for typicalflowering plants. Plants were pinched three weeks after planting andwere 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Duetimbroch’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number            Q05-7582-003, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Osteospermum ecklonis, identified as code number F-23-001,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright and mounded plant            habit; upright inflorescences positioned above the foliar            plane; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 20 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching,            about six lateral branches develop per plant; pinching            enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy plant            form. Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode            length: About 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:            About 4.9 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Dentate. Texture, upper            surface: Pubescent; leathery. Texture, lower surface:            Glabrous; leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 144B. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C;            venation, close to 144B. Petiole length: About 1.2 mm.            Petiole diameter: About 3.8 mm. Petiole texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper            surface: Close to 144A to 144B. Petiole color, lower            surface: Close to 144B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance/habit.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with            elongated oblong-shaped ray florets; inflorescences            positioned above the foliar plane; disc and ray florets            developing acropetally on a capitulum; inflorescences face            mostly upright to somewhat outwardly; freely flowering            habit; about 25 to 30 inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season and flowering response.—In Germany,            plants of the new Osteospermum flower continuously during            the spring and summer; early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about six weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Inflorescences last about three days on            the plant; inflorescences not persistent.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About            8.5 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 137B and 144C.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.2 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.5 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.4 cm. Receptacle            diameter: About 4 mm. Receptacle height: About 3 mm.        -   Ray florets.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 3.2 cm.            Width: About 8.4 mm. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per            inflorescence: About 16 to 20 arranged in about two whorls.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Towards the apex, close            to 21C; towards the base, close to 75C. When opening, lower            surface: Longitudinal stripes, close to 180B and 167C. Fully            opened, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 21C;            towards the base, close to 75C; color becoming closer to            167A with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            167C.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; apex dentate, five-pointed.            Length: About 5 mm. Diameter, apex: About 2 mm. Diameter,            base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            About 50. Color: Immature: Close to 93C. Mature: Close to            93A to 93C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 14 to 17.            Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 1.6 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery. Color, upper surface: Close to 137B to 137C.            Color, lower surface: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous; leathery. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            color: Close to 79A to 79B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 23A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Crested.            Stigma color: Close to 79A. Style length: About 3 mm. Style            color: Close to 79A. Ovary color: Close to 144C.        -   Seeds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Color:            Close to 199A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have not    been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Osteospermums.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Osteospermum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about    35° C.

1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetimbroch’ asillustrated and described.